Engine.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

B. T. RYAN.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6,1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

witmwwo WM M No. 789,105. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

' B. T. RYAN.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5.1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QXNWQAW? gmoewtoz PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

.3. T. RYAN. ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5..1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 789,105. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

B. T. RYAN.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.5.1904.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l/vitwaooeo 2 7; ww z 22% Gym PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

B. T. RYAN.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.5.1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

awuewtoz NITE STATES fPatented May 2, 1905.

PAT NT rrica.

BARTON T. RYAN, OF SARATOGA, WYOMING. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH B. ADAMS AND EDWARD F. NISBET, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,105, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed April 5, 1904. Serial No. 201,717.

To (til whom, it nut concern.-

Be itknown that I, BARTON T. RYAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Saratoga, in the county of Carbon and State of WVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap- IO pertains to make and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engines in which a suitable fluid, as steam, air, or water. is the motive agent. It is probable that air or steam will generally be used in the operation of my improved engine; but

it must be understood that it is capable of use with water or other fluid. The term fluid will therefore be used as a generic term to designate the agent; but in this specitication it will be assumed that the fluid em 2 5 ployed is capable of expansion andcontrac:

tion, as air or steam. As the pistons employed in the casing into which the operating fluid is admitted only make a partial revolution in one direction and then move a correspond- 0 ing distance in the opposite direction, whereby the crank disks or wheels to which the connecting-rods are attached are moved a halfrevolution during the movement of each piston in one direction and the other half of the rotation during the reverse movement of the piston, lterm the invention a semirotary engine. In this ca sing two pistons are located. The live steam is admitted between these two pistons,and they are at firstseparated until they 4 have traveled half their distance in one direction, after which the live fluid acting on them causes them to approach each other during the balance of their movement or stroke. During this action the shaft to which motion is transmitted by the pistons is given a half-revolution. As soon as the pistons have completed their stroke in one direction the live steam is admitted to the opposite side of the casing, and they are again separated and subsequently made to approach each other, during which time the operated shaft is given the other half of the revolution. WVhile the live steam is admitted to the casing between the pistons on one side the exhaust-port is opened on the opposite side. The induction and exhaust ports are controlled by suitable slide-valves operated through the instrumentality of a rocker shaft and arm rigidly connected with a lever or walking-beam, the extremities of which are respectively connected with the piston-stems of the slide-valves mounted on the opposite sides of the casing.

My improved engine mechanism is capable of such construction that the travel of the pistons in one direction, as heretofore explained, will impart to the operated shaft a complete revolution, while the reverse movement of the pistons imparts to the said shaft another revolution, thus giving the shaft twice the speed imparted by the construction and arrangement heretofore described.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompany drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved engine. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section 0 taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. A is a section taken on the line L I, Fig. 3, the pistons being shown in opposite positions or in the position when they have completed half of their stroke in either direction. In this view 8 5 the induction and exhaust ports are both closed by the slide-valves, whereby the completion of the stroke or movement of the pistons is made on expansion while the confined steam on the exhaust side is cushioned. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar sections with the pistons and slide-valves shown in different relative positions. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the engine as shown in the previous views. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of an engine of the same general construction as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, but

with 'the parts constructed and arranged to l the shaft G to the machinery to be operated give two rotations of the operated shaft for every forward and reverse movement of the two pistons within the casing. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modified form of crank-arm for operating the slide-valve-controlling lever.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let A designate a suitable bed-plate provided with forwardly located standards or legs A, in the upper extremities of which are formed suitable half journal-boxes, to which are bolted caps or upper cooperating journalbox sections A on both sides of the engine. Journaled directly in the leg A, on one side, is the shaft B, which protrudes beyond the journal-box, and to this protruding extremity is attached a disk B, provided with a wrist B to which is attached one extremity of a connecting-rod B Mounted on uprights E, attached to the bed-plate by means of bolts E, is a casing O, which, as shown in the drawings, is composed of two twin members, each of which is concavo-convex and provided with flanges C, connected by bolts C. This casing constitutes an annular chamber extending around the shaft and in which are located two pistons D. These pistons are circular in cross-section and are provided with contiguous collars D, which surround the shaft B and are formed integral with sleeves D and D The sleeve D is loose on the shaft B, while the sleeve D is fast on the said shaft to permit the two pistons to move independently of each other. To the outer extremity of the sleeve D is made fast another disk B, provided with a wrist-pin B to which is attached one extremity of another connectingrod B The sleeve D passes through a suitable journal-box. formed partly in a leg A and partly in the cap A the said journal-box being substantially of the same construction as that in which the shaft B is directly journaled on the opposite side of the engine.

Attention is called to the fact that in the construction shownin the drawings the upright supports E, upon which the casing is mounted, are formed integral with one of the members of the casing.

When the parts of the machine are assembled, the two connecting-rods B are connected with the disks B at opposite pointsthat is to say, if the one connecting-rod is connected with the wrist of one of the disks when the wrist is at its lowest point the other connecting-rod will be connected with the corresponding wrist of the other disk when the wrist is at its highest point of movement. (See Fig. 3.) The two connecting-rods B are connected with disks or wheels F by means of wrists F, the said disks F being made fast to the driven shaft G, journaled in boxes G, suitably mounted on the engine-frame. Gentrally mounted on the shaft G is a pulley G from which power may be transmitted from by the engine. Also mounted on each upright support E is a fluid-chest H, into which the operating fluid is admitted through an induction-pipe H, connected with any suitable source of supply. The fluid is exhausted from the casing through an oppositely-located pipe H Located within each fluid-chest is a slide-valve I, connected with a stem 1, which passes through the wall of the chest H and is connected at its upper extremity with a link I at a point 1 The links I are connected with the opposite extremities of a lever J, made fast to a rock-shaft J, journaled in the casing, as shown at J This rockshaft is provided with a depending crank-arm J to whose lower extremity is attached one end of a rod K, whose opposite extremity is connected with the strap K of an eccentric K surrounding the driven shaft G.

The casing C communicates with each steamchest H by way of a port L, which alternately performs the function of an inlet and an exhaust port. When the exhaust-cavity l of the slide-valve is in communication with the port L, the fluid exhausts from the cylinder through the exhaust-pipe H while when the said port L is in communication with the steam-chest proper or the chamber inclosed thereby the steam passes through the said port into the casing and acts to drive the pistons in the manner hereinafter described.

In describing the operation of the machine it may be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l and that the two pistons D, located within the casing O, are in the positions or approximately in the positions indicated by dotted lines in the same figure. Now assuming that the port L on the left is open to the live steam and the corresponding port on the right open to the exhaust,

the two pistons D will first move away from each other until they have reached the positions shown in Fig. 4, when the two slidevalves will have been moved through the instrumentality of the eccentric-rod K, whereby both ports L are closed, the one against the entrance of steam and the other against the exhaust. From this time the two pistons will be actuated by expansion and will approach each other until they have reached the position or approximately the position shown by broken lines at the right of Fig. 1. It will be understood that during this action of the pistons the two disks B, which are respectively connected with the pistons, as heretofore explained, will be moved in opposite directions, while the two connecting-rods B will cooperate to actuate the shaft G in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Assuming now that the two pistons are in the broken-line position in Fig. l and have reached their limit of movement, the shaft G and the disks F will have been given one-half of a revolution. Attention is called to the fact that the diameter of the disks ICC IIC

F is somewhat less than the diameter of the disks B, whereby the wrists F travel half of a revolution, while the wrists B travel less than one-half of a revolution. Hence when the pistons have reached the broken-line position in Fig. 1 the wrists F have completed one half of a revolution and are ready to commence the other half of the revolution, going in the direction of the arrow in said figure.

Now when the pistons are in the brokenline position in Fig. 1 the slide-valves will have been actuated to open the port L on the right for the entrance of the live steam, while the port L on the left will be in communication with the exhaust-cavity of its slide-valve, whereby the live steam enters on the right, while the exhaust escapes on the left. Hence the two pistons D are now given a movement the reverse of that heretofore described, and the said pistons will travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6 until the said pistons reach the position shown in Fig. 4:, when the ports L will both be closed, and the travel of the pistons will continue on expansion until the said pistons have again reached the dotted-line position in Fig. 1, in which event the shaft G and the disks F will have been given a complete revolution.

It will of course be understood that the portion of the stroke of the pistons which is made on expansion may be regulated as desired by the proper arrangement and adjustment of the slide-valves. By virtue of the arrangement shown and heretofore described the pistons during one half of their strokes are actuated by the direct action of the live steam, while during the other half of the stroke they are actuated by the expansive force of the live steam previously admitted, while during the expansive action of the steam in the one side of the casing the steam is compressed in the opposite side of the casing between the two pistons. This compression, however, will not be excessive, since at the time of commencement of compression the pressure on the exhaust side is only that of the atmosphere. However, as soon as the pistons have completed their stroke in one direction the compressed fluid between them will act to give them impetus in the reverse direction, whereby the power used in cushioning or compressing the fluid is not lost, but utilized, at least in part, during the reverse movement of the pistons.

; The action of the pistons with reference to the movement of the crank-pins for actuating the driven shaft may be explained by reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings, which is diagrammatic or conventional only. Let the numerals l, 2, 2, and 3 designate different positions of one of the pistons D in the casing C, and the figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 different positions of the crank-pins F, connected with the disks F of the driven shaft. Assuming 3 that the piston D is in the position 1 at the same time that a crank-pin F is in the position 6, then if the piston is moving in the direction of the arrow a the crank-pin may be said to move in the direction of arrow 6. When the piston has reached position 2, the crank-pin has reached position 7, and when the piston has reached position 3 the crankpin has reached position 5. As the position 3 is the limit of the stroke of the piston in the direction of the arrow (4, the piston immediately begins the reverse movement in the direction of the arrow 0, and as the piston reaches the positions 2 and 1 successively the crank-pin reaches the positions A and 6 successively. Hence the crank-pin has made a complete rotation while the piston has made a forward and back movement below a horizontal line 10 passed through the center of the casing, which is represented by the circle 8. The circle 9 may be said to indicate a disk F of the driven shaft. The various lines of this view indicate the different positions of the connecting-rod during the operation. For convenience of description in this view the operation of only one piston is considered. It will be observed that the operation of the other piston, if described, would be indicated in the upper half of the'circle 8 and would cooperate with the piston in the lower half of the said circle in the performance of the function of rotating the driven shaft, as just described. In other words, the two pistons while moving in different directions cooperate to produce rotary movement of the shaft in one direction.

If it is desired to produce two complete revolutions of the driven shaft every time the pistons make a complete reciprocation, the travel of a wrist-pin of the driven shaft will be as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings and the movement of the pistons will be on opposite sides of a vertical line 12 drawn through the circle 13. In this view the circle 14: will designate the travel of a crank-pin F, and the distance around this circle is assumed to be the distance from the position O to the position S traveling in the direction of arrow (Z on the circle 13. In other words, let 0, P, P, Q, R, R, and S indicate the different positions of a piston D in the casing G, and T,

U, V, W, and Tthe corresponding positions of a crank-pin F of the driven shaft. For instance, as the piston travels from the position 0 to the position P in the direction of the arrow (Z it may be assumed that a crankpin travels from the position T in the direction of arrow 0 to the position a, and while the piston is traveling from the position P to the positions Q, R, and S, respectively, the crank-pin travels from the position U to the positions V, W, and T, respectively, the crank-pin having completed a revolution while the piston is moving to its limit in one direction. As soon as the piston has reached the position S it immediately begins the reverse movement, and while it is traveling from the position S to the positions R, Q, P, and 0, respectively, the crank-pin is-making another revolution and assuming successively the positions U, V, W, and T in the direction of the arrow 6.

Attention is called to the fact that I do not limit the use of the invention to the special arrangement of the connecting-rods shown in the drawings, as I am aware that the rods may be differently connected in order to produce the desired result. For instance, the rods instead of being both connected, whereby their extremities move together to operate the driven shaft, the said extremities may be connected at points diametrically opposite from each other, whereby as one connecting-rod is moved in one direction the other is moved in the opposite direction. two connecting-rods are pushing and pulling alternately on their respective disks, whereby the engine is balanced.

Attention is called to the fact thatv in describing Fig. 8 and the operation of the arrangement of parts diametrically illustrated .therein the operation of only one piston is describednamely, the piston which would operate on the left side of the horizontal line 12. It must be understood that in this form of construction two pistons would be used operating on opposite sides of the vertical line 12. The description of the operation of both pistons on the plan outlined in Fig. 8 would make the view too complicated for clearness, and therefore the operation of only one piston was described.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 9 the depending crank-arm J 3 is provided with a slot J* in its lower extremity. In this slot is slidably fitted a block J through which is passed a pin J which engages the bifurcated extremity K of the rod K, leading from the eccentric of the driven shaft. The block J 7 is adjustable in the slot J and held in the adjusted position by a set-bolt J. It is evident that if the pin J be raised in the slot the movement of the rocking lever J will be diminished, while if the said pin be lowered in the slot the movement or stroke of the lever will be increased. This increase and decrease of movement is of course communicated to the slide-valves in the steam-chests.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1 In an engine, the combination of a shaft suitably journaled, an annular casing surrounding the shaft, two pistons located in said casing and having collars surrounding the shaft, one collar being loose on the shaft and the other fast thereon, the pistons being respectively confined to travel in opposite halves of the casing, means for automatically introducing fluid between the pistons at either side of the chamber and exhausting it from the opposite side, the pistons being free to travel in In other words, the

the casing and the operating fluid acting to move them simultaneously in opposite directions, said fluid-controlling means comprising valves located on opposite sides of the fluidchamber, a lever, rods connecting the valves with the opposite extremities of the lever, a rock-shaft to which the center of the lever is secured, a crank connected with the shaft and a rod operated from the driven shaft and connected with the crank for operating the rockshaft.

2. The combination of a driving-shaft, a driven shaft, an annular casing surrounding the driving-shaft, two pistons located in the casing, means for introducing fluid to the easing to actuate the pistons simultaneously in opposite directions, and connections between the pistons the driving-shaft and the driven shaft, whereby the driving-shaft is given partial rotations alternately in opposite directions, and the driven shaft continuous rotary movement in either direction, said fluid-controlling means comprising valves located on opposite sides of the fluid-chamber, a lever, rods connecting the valves with the opposite extremities of the lever, a rock-shaft to which the center of the lever is secured, a crank connected with the shaft and a rod operated from the driven shaft and connected with the crank for operating the rock-shaft.

3. The combination of a stationary circular fluid-chamber, pistons located in said chamber and connected with sleeves movable from the axis of the fluid-chamber as a center, the pistons being free to move in said chamber, a driven part mounted to rotate, and connections between the sleeves of the pistons and the driven part, whereby as fluid is introduced to the fluid-chamber, the pistons are caused to make partial rotations in reverse direction, and the driven part caused to rotate continuously in either direction, valves located on opposite sides of the chamber, a rock-shaft connected with the driven shaft, a lever whose center is connected with the rock-shaft, and connections between the opposite extremities of the lever and the valves.

4:. The combination of a stationary circular fluid-chamber, pistons located in said chamber and free to move from the axis of the chamber as a cent-er, the pistons having sleeves or collars surrounded by the said chamber, a driven part mounted to rotate and connected in operative relation with the pistons, valves mounted on opposite sides of the chamber, and means controlled from the driven part for actuating said valves whereby operating fluid is introduced to and exhausted from the opposite sides of the casing causing the pistons to move simultaneously in opposite directions, the valve controlling means comprising a rocking lever whose extremities arerespectively connected with the valves, and a connection between the lever and the driven shaft for actuating the latter to operate the valves.

5. The combination of a driving-shaft, a driven shaft, an annular chamber surrounding the driving-shaft, pistons located in the said chaniberand having sleeves through which the driving-shaft passes, one of said sleeves being fast to the driving-shaft and the other sleeve loose thereon, valve mechanism mounted on opposite sides of the fluid-casing and comprising steam-chests and slidevalves, a lever having its opposite extremities connected with the two slide-valves, a rock-shaft to which the lever is made fast between its extremities, and an eccentric connection between the rock-shaft and the driven shaft, whereby the valves are actuated to admit the fluid to and exhaust it from the opposite sides of the casing, and suitable connections between the driving-shaft and one sleeve of a piston, and the driven shaft whereby as fluid is introduced to the casing, the driving-shaft is given partial rotations in reverse directions and the driven shaft continuous rotation in either direction.

6. The combination of a stationary circular fluid-chamber, pistons located in said chamber and free to move from the axis of the chamber as a center, the pistons having sleeves or collars surrounded by the said chamber, a driven part mounted to rotate and connected in operative relation with the pistons, valves mounted on opposite sides of the chamber, and means controlled from the driven part for actuating said valves whereby operating fluid is introduced to and exhausted from the opposite sides of the casing causing the pistons to move simultaneously in opposite directions, the said valves being arranged to cut off the exhaust before the pistons have reached their limit of travel in either direction whereby the operating fluid is cushioned in the exhaust side of the casing, the said valve-controlling means comprising a lever whose extremities are connected with the respective valves, a rock-shaft connected with the lever between its extremities, and an operative connection between a moving part of the engine and the rock-shaft.

7. The combination of a stationary circular fluid-chamber, pistons located in said chamber and free to move from the axis of the chamber as a center, the pistons having sleeves or collars surrounded by the said chamber, a driven part mounted to rotate and connected in operative relation with the pistons, valve mechanism mounted on opposite sides of the chamber comprising steam-chests and valves, and means controlled from the driven part for actuating said mechanism whereby operating fluid is introduced to and exhausted from the opposite sides of the casing causing the pistons to move simultaneously in opposite directions, the valves being controlled to cutoff the inlet of the operating fluid on one side and the exhaust on the opposite side, before the pistons have reached their limit of travel in either direction, whereby the remainder of the pistons stroke is completed by expansion on one side of the casing, while the fluid on the opposite side is cushioned between the pistons, the said valve-controlling means comprising a lever whose extremities are connected with the respective valves, a rock-shaft connected with the lever intermediate its extremities, and an operating connection between the rockshaft and the driven shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BARTON T. RYAN.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, IDA E. OBRIEN. 

